Process of forming and insoluble substance from the roots of plants of the amorphophallus family.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HANS LYNCKE, OF CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY; SOPHIE LYNCKE HEIRESS OF SAIDHANS LYNCKE, DECEASED.

PROCESS OF FORMING AN INSOLUBIJE SUBSTANCE FROM THE ROOTS OF PLANTS OFTHE AMORPHOPHALLUS FAMILY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

No Drawing. Application filed November 9, 1908, Serial No. 461,804.Renewed December 30, 1911.

Serial No. 668,765.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IIANS LrNcKn, a subject of the German Emperor, andresiding at Charlottenburg, near Berlin, Germany, have invented acertain new and useful Improved Process of Forming an Insoluble Materialfrom the Roots of Plants of the Amorphophalhas Family, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The subject-matter of my invention is a process of forming an insolublematerial from the roots of plants of the Amorphophallus family. In thisspecification the term root-substance means a powder obtained from thebody of the root or of the root-stock of these plants by drying andgrinding operations.

My process consists in treating this dry root-substance by adding it tocertain solutions hereinafter specified. Said solutions may be at theatmospheric temperature and the root-substance may be left in thesolutions for some hours. By this treatment a viscous mass is formedwhich when oured on glass plates or the like forms a continuous skininsoluble in water, which on being dried is waterproof and elastic. Thisskin can be usedfor many purposes, for example, it may be used fordressing wounds. The viscous mass is suitable for impregnating orcoating textures in order to make them air-tight or waterproof.

In carrying out this process the following solutions may be used, viz.,caustic alkaline solutions, such as caustic soda-lye, solutions ofalkaline carbonates and of sodium acetate. Ammoniac copper, that is, asolution of copper oxid in ammonia, and also sulfate of ammoniac copper,that is animoniac copper with the addition of sulfate of copper may alsobe used. The solution in which the root-substance is placed may be asconcentrated as desired, the action being quicker or slower according tothe degree of concentration. The solution may consist of from about 2 to10 parts of the salts in 100 parts of water.

I claim 1. The hereindescribed process of forming an insoluble materialfrom the roots of plants of the Amorphophallus family, which consists intreating the powdered roots with a caustic alkali, whereby a viscousmass is obtained, and in drying the mass.

2. The hereindescribed process of forming an insoluble material from theroots of plants-of the Amorphoplzallus family, which consists invplacing the powdered roots into a caustic soda lye and in stirring thesame, whereupon a viscous mass is obtained, and in drying the viscousmass.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

I-IA'NS LYN CKE.

Witnesses WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HAsPER.

